Digital photographing apparatus, methods of controlling the same, and computer-readable storage medium to increase success rates in panoramic photography

ABSTRACT

Digital photographing apparatus, methods of controlling the same, and computer-readable storage medium to increase success rates in panoramic photography are disclosed. A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus is provided that includes initiating panoramic photography, and providing a capture guide when an image is captured during the panoramic photography.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/370,235, filed Dec. 6, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/884,051, filed Oct. 15, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.9,538,080, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/571,627, filed Dec. 16, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,172,872, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/343,179, filed Jan.4, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,922,620, which claims the priority benefitof Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0059647, filed on Jun. 20,2011, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Embodiments of the invention relate to a digital photographingapparatus, methods of controlling the same, and computer-readablestorage medium to increase success rates in panoramic photography.

2. Description of the Related Art

A digital photographing apparatus receives and converts optical signalsinto electrical signals to generate photographic images. Some recentdigital photographing apparatuses provide continuous shooting, panoramicphotography, and various photographic functions by adopting variousfiltering effects, thus increasing ease of use as well as usersatisfaction.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention increase success rates in panoramicphotography in a digital photographing apparatus.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method ofcontrolling a digital photographing apparatus, including initiatingpanoramic photography, and providing a capture guide when an image iscaptured during the panoramic photography.

The panoramic photography may be performed using an electronic shutter.

The capture guide may be a capture sound.

The method may further include, during the panoramic photography,providing a movement guide for the digital photographing apparatus.

Providing the capture guide may include displaying a panoramic progressguide that indicates a progress status for the panoramic photography,changing the panoramic progress guide when the image is captured, andoutputting a capture sound in synchronization with changing thepanoramic progress guide when the image is captured.

The method may further include providing a live-view image, whereinproviding the capture guide comprises displaying a panoramic progressguide in the live-view image that indicates a progress status for thepanoramic photography, changing the panoramic progress guide when theimage is captured, and outputting a capture sound in synchronizationwith changing the panoramic progress guide when the image is captured.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided adigital photographing apparatus including: a photography unit configuredto generate an electronic image signal from an optical signal; aphotography controller configured to control the photography unit toperform panoramic photography; and a panoramic photography guide unitconfigured to provide a capture guide as images are captured during thepanoramic photography.

The photography unit may be further configured to conduct the panoramicphotography using an electrical shutter.

The capture guide may be a capture sound.

The panoramic photography guide unit may be further configured toprovide a movement guide for the digital photographing apparatus.

The panoramic photography guide unit may be further configured todisplay a panoramic progress guide that indicates a progress status forthe panoramic photography, change the panoramic progress guide as theimages are captured, and output a capture sound in synchronization withchanging the panoramic progress guide.

The digital photographing apparatus may further include a live-viewproviding unit configured to provide a live-view image, wherein thepanoramic photography guide unit is to display a panoramic progressguide in the live-view image that indicates a progress status for thepanoramic photography, change the panoramic progress guide as the imagesare captured, and output a capture sound in synchronization withchanging the panoramic progress guide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent in review of detail exemplary embodiments thereof withreference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital photographing apparatus,according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the central processing unit(CPU)/digital signal processor (DSP) of FIG. 1, according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are exemplary screens displaying panorama progress guidesin a live-view image;

FIG. 7 illustrates updating a bar-like panorama progress guide as imagesare captured;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus of FIG. 1, according to yet another embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary screen showing a movement guide in a textmessage; and

FIG. 10 is an exemplary screen showing a movement guide as an arrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions and accompanying drawings are provided tofacilitate an understanding of the invention. Details that are readilyapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosuremight be omitted to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

The description and drawings are not intended to limit the invention,but the scope of the invention should be defined by attached claims.Terms, used herein, should be construed to have meanings suitable to thetechnical area of the invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital photographing apparatus 100,according to an embodiment of the invention.

The digital photographing apparatus 100 includes a photography unit 110,an analog signal processor 120, memory 130, a storage/read controller140, data storage 142, program storage 150, a display driver 162, adisplay unit 164, a CPU/DSP 170, a manipulation unit 180, and a speaker190.

Operations of the digital photographing apparatus 100 are controlled bythe CPU/DSP 170. The CPU/DSP 170 provides control signals to a lensdriver 112, an iris diaphragm driver 115, an imaging device controller119, etc. to operate a lens 111, an iris diaphragm 113, and an imagingdevice 118.

The photography unit 110 includes the lens 111, the lens driver 112, theiris diaphragm 113, the iris diaphragm driver 115, the imaging device118, and the imaging device controller 119 to create images representedby electrical signals from incident light rays.

The lens 111 may include a plurality of lenses or groups of lenses. Aposition of the lens 111 is controlled by the lens driver 112. The lensdriver 112 adjusts the position of the lens 111 based on a controlsignal provided by the CPU/DSP 170.

The extent of opening and closing the iris diaphragm 113 is controlledby the iris diaphragm driver 115, and thus the amount of light rays tobe incident on the imaging device 118 may be adjusted.

An optical signal that has passed through the lens 111 and the irisdiaphragm 113 arrives at a light-receiving surface of the imaging device118, and a picture of an object is formed on the light-receivingsurface. The imaging device 118 may be a charge-coupled device (CCD)image sensor or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensor(SIS), which converts optical signals into electrical signals. Theimaging device 118 is controlled by the imaging device controller 119 toadjust sensitivity, for example. The imaging device controller 119 maycontrol the imaging device 118 based on a control signal that isautomatically created according to a real-time input image signal, orbased on a control signal that is manually input by a user'smanipulation.

Light-exposure time of the imaging device 118 is adjusted by a shutter(not shown). The shutter may be a mechanical shutter that adjusts theamount of incident light rays by moving a shade, or an electronicshutter that controls light-exposure by supplying electrical signals tothe imaging device 118.

The analog signal processor 120 may perform a noise reduction process, again adjustment process, a waveform shaping process, ananalog-to-digital conversion process, or the like on an analog signalsupplied from the imaging device 118.

A resulting signal from the analog signal processor 120 may be input tothe CPU/DSP 170 directly or through the memory 130. Here, the memory 130serves as a main memory of the digital photographing apparatus 100, andtemporarily stores information necessary for operation of the CPU/DSP170. The program storage 150 stores programs, such as, an operatingsystem to operate the digital photographing apparatus 100, anapplication system, etc.

In addition, the digital photographing apparatus 100 includes thedisplay unit 164 for displaying an operation status of the digitalphotographing apparatus 100, images, or information about imagescaptured by the digital photographing apparatus 100. The display unit164 may provide visual and/or audible information to a user. To providethe visual information, the display unit 164 may include a liquidcrystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)panel, etc., for example. Furthermore, the display unit 164 may be atouch screen capable of detecting touch inputs.

The display driver 162 provides the display unit 164 with drivingsignals.

The CPU/DSP 170 processes input image signals, and controls eachcomponent of the digital photographing apparatus 100 according to theprocessed input image signals, or according to an external signal. TheCPU/DSP 170 may, for example, reduce noise in an input image signal andperform image signal processing, such as, gamma correction, color filterarray interpolation, color matrix, color correction, color enhancement,etc. to improve image quality. Furthermore, the CPU/DSP 170 may compressthe thus processed image data to create an image file, or mayreconstruct image data from image files. An image compression format maybe a reversible or a non-reversible format. For example, a still imagemay be compressed in accordance with a Joint Photographic Experts Group(JPEG) format or a JPEG 2000 format. In addition, a moving picture filemay be created by compressing a plurality of frames according to, forexample, a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) standard. Image files maybe created according to the Exchangeable image file format (Exif)standard, for example.

Image data output from the CPU/DSP 170 is input to the storage/readcontroller 140 directly or via the memory 130, and the storage/readcontroller 140 stores the image data in the data storage 142automatically or in response to a user's signal. The storage/readcontroller 140 also reads data associated with images from image filesstored in the data storage 142, and inputs the data to the displaydriver 162 via the memory 130 or through some other components of thedigital photographing apparatus 100 so that images may be displayed onthe display unit 164. The data storage 142 may be removable from orpermanently disposed in the digital photographing apparatus 100.

Furthermore, the CPU/DSP 170 may perform obscurity, coloring,blurriness, edge emphasis, image analysis, image recognition, imageeffect, etc. processing. Examples of an image recognition processinclude a face recognition process, a scene recognition process, etc.The CPU/DSP 170 may also perform a display process on an image signal tobe displayed on the display unit 164. For example, the CPU/DSP 170 mayperform luminescence level adjustment, color correction, contrastadjustment, edge emphasis adjustment, screen divisional processing,image creation such as a character image, image synthesizing, etc. TheCPU/DSP 170 may be connected to an external monitor, and may perform adisplay process on an image, and transmit the processed image to bedisplayed thereon.

Additionally, the CPU/DSP 170 may execute a program stored in theprogram storage 150, or may create control signals for controlling autofocusing, zooming change, focus change, automatic exposure compensation,etc. to be provided to the iris diaphragm driver 114, the lens driver112, the imaging device controller 119, and to control operations ofother components such as a shutter, a Strobo, etc. which are equipped inthe digital photographing apparatus 100.

The manipulation unit 180 is a unit via which a user may input controlsignals. The manipulation unit 180 may include a variety of buttonsincluding a shutter-release button to input a shutter-release signalthat allows the imaging device 118 to be exposed to light for apredetermined period of time to take a picture, a power button to inputa control signal for controlling power-on/off, a zoom button to widen ornarrow an angle of view according to an input, a mode selection button,a button for adjusting other photography settings, etc. The manipulationunit 180 may be implemented by any type of input unit useable by a userto input control signals, such as, buttons, a keyboard, a touch pad, atouch screen, a remote controller, etc.

The speaker 190 outputs sound in response to a control signal providedby the CPU/DSP 170. The sound may be output from the speaker 190 at atime determined by the CPU/DSP 170.

The digital photographing apparatus 100, according to an embodiment ofthe invention, includes a panoramic photography capability. Thepanoramic photography is performed in response to the shutter-releaseinput after the digital photographing apparatus 100 enters a panoramicphotography mode in response to a user setting. Panoramic photography isa technique of capturing images on a wide format by taking consecutivepictures of adjacent areas, arranging the captured images to beconnected to each other, and creating a panoramic image by combiningthem into a single image. During panoramic photography, moving speed anddirection of the digital photographing apparatus 100 affects the successor failure of the panoramic photography. Embodiments of the inventionprovide one or more guides during panoramic photography so the successrate of panoramic photography may be significantly improved.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the CPU/DSP 170 of FIG. 1,according to an embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment, the CPU/DSP 170 includes a panoramic photographycontroller 210 and a panoramic photography guide unit 220.

The panoramic photography controller 210 controls the photography unit110 during panoramic photography. During panoramic photography, thephotography unit 110 takes consecutive pictures of adjacent areas, andthe panoramic photography controller 210 controls the photography unit110 to capture the images that have been created by the imaging device118.

The panoramic photography controller 210 may determine a proper capturetime with reference to an image input through the photography unit 110.There are a variety of ways of determining the proper capture time withreference to the input image. For example, the proper capture time maybe selected by determining whether certain edge areas overlap between acurrent input image and a previous input image, or whether an edge of afirst edge area overlaps with an edge of a second edge area.

In another example, the panoramic photography controller 210 may detecta movement of the digital photographing apparatus 100, and thusdetermine a proper capture time. Regarding capture timing, when thedigital photographing apparatus 100 rotates to a predetermined angle ormoves a predetermined distance, it may be determined to capture an inputimage. The movement of the digital photographing apparatus 100 may bedetected with a gyro sensor, a position detect sensor using, forexample, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module, a direction sensor,such as an electric compass, etc.

In addition, the panoramic photography controller 210 provides thepanoramic photography guide unit 220 with information about capturetiming.

The panoramic photography guide unit 220 provides one or more captureindications or guides as images are captured during panoramicphotography. The capture guide(s) may be, for example, a capture sound,a predetermined icon, a changing icon, etc. The capture indication(s) orguide(s) may be provided in synchronization with image capture (i.e.,image capture times) during panoramic photography.

With the help of the capture indication(s) or guide(s), the user may bemore aware of image capture timing during panoramic photography, and maymove the digital photographing apparatus 100 with reference to the imagecapture timing.

When the photography unit 110 performs panoramic photography not basedon mechanical movement of a shutter curtain but using an electronicshutter where images are captured according to a control signal suppliedto the photography unit 118, the user might not be aware of when imagesare captured because there is no mechanical shutter movement and thus noshutter sound. In an embodiment, in a case of conducting panoramicphotography using an electronic shutter, a fake or simulated shuttermovement sound is created and output in synchronization with imagecapture, or a capture guide may be provided to the user so that the usermay made aware of image capture timing even with an electronic shutter.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

After the digital photographing apparatus 100 has entered a panoramicphotography mode and when a shutter-release button is pressed, panoramicphotography starts.

The panoramic photography controller 210 determines when to capture animage (i.e., an image capture time) during the panoramic photography inoperation S302. For example, the image capture time may be determinedwith reference to an input image or by detecting a movement of thedigital photographing apparatus 100. Each time image capture occurs, acapture guide, which may be a capture sound, is provided in operationS304. The user may easily recognize the image capture time based on thecapture guide, and may move the digital photographing apparatus 100 withreference to the image capture time.

If a predetermined requirement for terminating photographing is met,panoramic photography is terminated in operation S306. Otherwise, thenext image capture time is determined in operation S302. Thepredetermined requirement for terminating panoramic photographing maybe, for example, when the number of captured images reaches a presetvalue, when there is no change in input images, when the amount ofchange in input images is less than a predetermined value, or when nomovement of the digital photographing apparatus 100 is detected, etc.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, according to another embodimentof the invention.

In FIG. 4, a capture guide is displayed in a live-view image duringpanoramic photography. By displaying the capture guide in the live-viewimage, the user may proceed with the panoramic photography whilechecking a current input image and a status of the panoramicphotography, thus significantly reducing the failure rate of panoramicphotography.

To do this, the live-view image is displayed on the display unit 164using a current image input to the imaging device 118 in operation S402,and a panoramic progress guide is displayed on the live-view image inoperation S404.

Image capture time is determined in operation S406, and the panoramicprogress guide is changed (i.e., updated) as images are captured inoperation S408, and a capture sound is output in operation S410.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are exemplary screens displaying panoramic progress guidesin live-view images.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a bar-like panoramic progress guide may bedisplayed on the screen on which the live-view image is displayed. Thebar-like panoramic processing guide includes a panoramic progress guidearea 510 a shaped like a bar, and a panoramic progress bar 512 a withinthe panoramic progress guide area 510 a, which is lengthened by apredetermined length as images are captured.

FIG. 7 illustrates updates of a panoramic progress guide in a bar thatis updated as images are captured. In FIG. 7, n is the number of timesthat images that have been captured.

As images are captured, the panoramic progress bar 512 a is lengthenedby a length of STEP within the panoramic progress guide area 510 a, asshown in FIG. 7. The length of STEP may be pre-determined. Furthermore,in synchronization with the lengthening of the panoramic progress bar512 a by the length of STEP, a capture sound of SOUND may be output. Alength of the panoramic progress guide area 510 a may be determinedbased on the maximum number of times that images may or will captured.In other words, the length of the panoramic progress guide area 510 amay be determined depending on a final length that corresponds to themaximum number of images that may be captured.

In a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a circular panoramicprogress guide may be displayed on the screen where the live-view imageis displayed. The circular panoramic progress guide includes a panoramicprogress guide area 510 b shaped like a circle, and a panoramic progresssector 512 b within the panoramic progress guide area 510 b, which isexpanded by an angle of STEP as images are captured.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a text-based panoramicphotography guide 520 may be displayed along with the live-view image.

Returning to FIG. 4, it is determined whether any of the requirementsfor terminating panoramic photography is met in operation S412. If norequirement is met, a next capture time is determined in operation S406.Otherwise, if any of the requirements are met panoramic photography isterminated.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method of controlling the digitalphotographing apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, according to another embodimentof the invention.

In the present embodiment, during panoramic photography, a guide to themovement of the digital photographing apparatus 100 is provided to theuser. The movement guide may include, for example, a guide to a movingspeed, a guide to a moving direction, etc.

The panoramic photography controller 210 monitors the status of thepanoramic photography and assesses the adequacy of the movements of thedigital photographing apparatus 100 in operation S802. To do this, thepanoramic photography controller 210 may assess the adequacy of a movingspeed, a moving direction of the digital photographing apparatus 100,etc.

The adequacy of the moving speed may be assessed by determining whetheran overlapping area between successive captured input images is wider ornarrower than a predetermined reference value, whether an area whereedges overlap is wider or narrower than a predetermined reference value,whether the moving speed of the digital photographing apparatus 100 isoutside a predetermined range, etc. For example, if the overlapping areaor the area where edges overlap between input images is wider than thepredetermined reference value, the moving speed is deemed too slow; ifthe overlapped area or the area where edges overlap between input imagesis narrower than the predetermined reference value, the moving speed isdeemed too fast. In a case of the digital photographing apparatus 100being able to detect and calculate its own moving speed, when the movingspeed is larger than a predetermined range, the moving speed is deemedtoo fast; and when the moving speed is less than the predeterminedrange, the moving speed is deemed too slow.

In the case of the digital photographing apparatus 100 conductingpanoramic photography while moving in an X direction, if an overlappingarea between successively captured input images slants in a firstdirection or a second direction opposite to the first direction on the Yaxis, or if the movement direction of the digital photographingapparatus 100 has a coordinate on the Y axis, the moving direction maybe deemed not adequate.

Based on the result from determining the adequacy of the movement of thedigital photographing apparatus 100, a movement guide is provided to theuser in operation S804. When the moving speed is deemed too fast, aguide that guides the user to decrease the moving speed is provided.Otherwise, when the moving speed is deemed too slow, a guide that guidesthe user to increase the moving speed is provided. Additionally, if themoving direction slants in the first direction on the Y axis, a guidethat guides the user to move the digital photographing apparatus 100 inthe second direction is provided; and if the moving direction slants tothe second direction, a guide that guides the user to move the digitalphotographing apparatus 100 in the first direction is provided.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary screen showing a movement guide 910 as a textmessage. FIG. 10 is an exemplary screen showing a movement guide 1010 asan arrow. The length and size of the arrow, the number of arrows, etc.may be a guide to the moving speed of the digital photographingapparatus 100, and the direction of the arrow may be a guide to thedirection of the movement of the digital photographing apparatus 100.

Besides the movement guides described above, movement guides may beprovided in various other ways, including a movement guide with sound.

Returning to FIG. 8, capture time is determined in operation S806, and acapture guide is provided or updated as images are captured in operationS808. If any of the requirements for terminating panoramic photographingare met in operation S810, panoramic photography is terminated.Otherwise, if any of the requirements are not met in operation S810, theprocess returns to operation S802, and operations S802 to S808 arerepeated.

The embodiments disclosed herein may include a memory for storingprogram data, a processor for executing the program data to implementthe methods and apparatus disclosed herein, a permanent storage such asa disk drive, a communication port for handling communication with otherdevices, and user interface devices such as a display, a keyboard, amouse, etc. When software modules are involved, these software modulesmay be stored as program instructions or computer-readable codes, whichare executable by the processor, on a non-transitory or tangiblecomputer-readable media such as a read-only memory (ROM), arandom-access memory (RAM), a compact disc (CD), a digital versatiledisc (DVD), a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storagedevice, an electronic storage media (e.g., an integrated circuit (IC),an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), aflash memory, etc.), a quantum storage device, a cache, and/or any otherstorage media in which information may be stored for any duration (e.g.,for extended time periods, permanently, for brief instances, fortemporary buffering, for caching, etc.). As used herein, acomputer-readable storage medium expressly excludes anycomputer-readable media on which signals may be propagated. However, acomputer-readable storage medium may include internal signal tracesand/or internal signal paths carrying electrical signals thereon.

Any references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thisdisclosure, reference has been made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language has been used to describe theseembodiments. However, no limitation of the scope of this disclosure isintended by this specific language, and this disclosure should beconstrued to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to oneof ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

Disclosed embodiments may be described in terms of functional blockcomponents and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may berealized by any number of hardware and/or software components configuredto perform the specified functions. For example, the embodiments mayemploy various integrated circuit components (e.g., memory elements,processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like) thatmay carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or moreprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, where the elements ofthe embodiments are implemented using software programming or softwareelements, the embodiments may be implemented with any programming orscripting language such as C, C++, Java, assembler, or the like, usingany combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines, andother programming elements. Functional aspects may be implemented asinstructions executed by one or more processors. Furthermore, theembodiments could employ any number of conventional techniques forelectronics configuration, signal processing, control, data processing,and the like. The words “mechanism” and “element” are used broadly andare not limited to mechanical or physical embodiments, but can includesoftware routines in conjunction with processors, etc.

The particular implementations shown and described herein areillustrative examples and are not intended to otherwise limit the scopeof this disclosure in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventionalelectronics, control systems, software development, and other functionalaspects of the systems (and components of the individual operatingcomponents of the systems) may not be described in detail. Furthermore,the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figurespresented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationshipsand/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. Itshould be noted that many alternative or additional functionalrelationships, physical connections or logical connections may bepresent in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component isessential to the practice of the embodiments unless the element isspecifically described as “essential” or “critical”.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the embodiments (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merelyintended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually toeach separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicatedherein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specificationas if it were individually recited herein. The steps of all methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Moreover,one or more of the blocks and/or interactions described may be changed,eliminated, sub-divided, or combined; and disclosed processes may becarried out sequentially and/or carried out in parallel by, for example,separate processing threads, processors, devices, discrete logic,circuits, etc. The examples provided herein and the exemplary language(e.g., “such as” or “for example”) used herein are intended merely tobetter illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on thescope of this disclosure unless otherwise claimed. In view of thisdisclosure, numerous modifications and adaptations will be readilyapparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spiritand scope of this disclosure.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of controlling a digital photographingapparatus, the method comprising: displaying a live-view image;initiating panoramic photography; capturing a successive series ofimages during the panoramic photography while the digital photographingapparatus is moving in a direction on an axis; and providing positioninformation of the digital photographing apparatus with respect to theaxis while the digital photographing apparatus is moving, wherein theposition information of the digital photographing apparatus is displayedand overlaid on the live-view image, and wherein the capturing of thesuccessive series of images during the panoramic photography isperformed using an electronic shutter.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising providing a movement guide.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: providing a capture guide; displaying a panoramic progressbar in a live-view image that indicates a progress status for thepanoramic photography, wherein the panoramic progress bar lengthens asimages are captured; and outputting a capture sound in synchronizationwith the lengthening of the panoramic progress bar.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, further comprising, during the panoramic photography, providinga movement guide for the digital photographing apparatus.
 5. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: displaying a panoramic progress guidethat indicates a progress status for the panoramic photography; changingthe panoramic progress guide when the successive series of images arecaptured; and outputting a capture sound in synchronization withchanging the panoramic progress guide when the successive series ofimages are captured.
 6. A digital photographing apparatus, comprising: adisplay; a photography device configured to generate an electronic imagesignal from an optical signal; and one or more processors configured to:provide a live-view image via the display, control the photographydevice to capture a successive series of images during panoramicphotography while the digital photographing apparatus is moving in adirection on an axis, and provide position information of the digitalphotographing apparatus with respect to the axis while the digitalphotographing apparatus is moving, wherein the position information ofthe digital photographing apparatus is displayed and overlaid on thelive-view image, and wherein the capturing of the successive series ofimages during the panoramic photography is performed using an electronicshutter.
 7. The digital photographing apparatus of claim 6, wherein theone or more processors is further configured to provide a movementguide.
 8. The digital photographing apparatus of claim 6, wherein theone or more processors are further configured to: display a panoramicprogress bar in the live-view image that indicates a progress status forthe panoramic photography, lengthen the panoramic progress bar as theimages are captured, and output a capture sound in synchronization withthe lengthening of the panoramic progress bar.
 9. A portable devicecomprising: a display; an image sensor; and a processor adapted to:obtain, via the image sensor, a first image and a second image, present,via the display, at least one portion of the first image or the secondimage as a preview image, generate a panorama image associated with afirst direction using the first and second images, obtain, via the imagesensor, a third image associated with a second direction different fromthe first direction while the panorama image is generated, and based atleast in part on the obtaining of the third image, present, via thedisplay, an indication to guide to move the portable device in a thirddirection substantially perpendicular to the first direction, whereinthe indication to guide to move the portable device is displayed andoverlaid on the preview image, and wherein the obtaining of the firstimage, the second image, and the third image is performed using anelectronic shutter.
 10. The portable device of the claim 9, wherein theprocessor is further adapted to: present, via the display, anotherindication indicative of a progress of the generating of the panoramaimage.
 11. The portable device of the claim 9, wherein the processor isfurther adapted to: present, via the display, another indication toguide to move the portable device in the first direction for thegenerating of the panorama image.
 12. The portable device of the claim11, wherein the processor is further adapted to: present a graphicalobject corresponding to an arrow as at least part of the otherindication.
 13. The portable device of the claim 9, wherein, when thefirst image is obtained at a first time, and the second image isobtained at a second time later than the first time, the processor isfurther adapted to: identify the second direction based at least in parton an image analysis of an overlapped portion among the third image andthe second image or the first image.
 14. The portable device of theclaim 9, wherein the processor is further adapted to: pause thegenerating of the panorama image at least temporarily in response to theobtaining of the third image.
 15. The portable device of claim 14,wherein the processor is further adapted to: resume the generating ofthe panorama image in response to the portable device being moved in thethird direction.
 16. The portable device of the claim 15, wherein theprocessor is further adapted to: refrain from presenting the indicationin response to the resuming of the generating of the panorama image. 17.The portable device of the claim 9, wherein the processor is furtheradapted to: obtain, while the panorama image is generated, a fourthimage associated with the second direction and satisfying a specifiedcondition, and terminate the generating of the panorama image inresponse to the obtaining of the fourth image.
 18. A portable devicecomprising: a display; an image sensor; and a processor adapted to:obtain, via the image sensor, a first image and a second image in afirst direction to be used to generate a panorama image, provide alive-view image, via the display, and based at least in part on adetermination that a third image is obtained via the image sensor in asecond direction, present, via the display, an indication to guide tomove the portable device in a third direction substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction, wherein the indication to guide tomove the portable device is displayed and overlaid on the live-viewimage, and wherein the obtaining of the first image, the second image,and the third image is performed using an electronic shutter.